Appendix – Key Areas for Consideration
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee-Marine Environment Protection Committee Circulars - MSC-MEPC.7 Circulars - MSC-MEPC.7/Circular.3 – Framework for Consideration of Ergonomics and Work Environment – (22 May 2006) - Annex – Framework for IMO Consideration of Ergonomics and Work Environment - Appendix – Key Areas for Consideration

Appendix – Key Areas for Consideration

  1. Manual valve operation, access, location and orientation: The ability to easily locate, access and operate valves onboard ship can have a significant impact on seafarers ability to prevent an accident to the vessel or the environment or prevent personal injury. Consideration should be given to how ergonomic design principles can be applied in order to better access and operate manual valves onboard ship.

  2. Stairs, vertical ladders, ramps, walkways and work platforms: As some P&I Club statistics indicate, the incidence of slips, trips and falls contribute to a significant number of injuries on board ship. Prevention of these incidents from locations such as vertical ladders, ramps, walkways and work platforms should be considered. This ergonomic consideration can be applied to new ships (i.e. design) and existing ships (e.g. non-skid materials used in critical work areas to reduce the incidents of slips).

  3. Inspection and maintenance considerations: Accessibility, inspectability and maintainability of the ships hull, machinery, life saving and fire fighting appliances are necessary to safety and environmental protection. Ergonomic principles should apply to inspection and maintenance that include access to critical equipment and task requirements.

  4. Working environment: Working environment is typically comprised of five elements:

  • a. layout of spaces;

  • b. ambient environmental characteristics of human whole-body vibration;

  • c. noise;

  • d. indoor climate; and

  • e. vibration.

  5. Application of ergonomics to design: Basic guidance on how ergonomics can be considered during the ship design stage and for changes after construction.

Parent topic: Annex – Framework for IMO Consideration of Ergonomics and Work Environment
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